By PATRICK ADRIAN
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SPRINGFIELD, Vt. — At age 38, Springfield musician and DJ John Ellis has the familiar responsibilities of adulthood. A homeowner and father of two children, ages 4 and 9, much of his life today goes toward earning a living and attending his children’s sporting events and other extracurricular activities.
Yet for 14 years Ellis, better known locally by his stage name “Spanky Payne”, has found time to keep his love for punk music alive with an free annual concert in Rutland, Vermont, called “Punk in the Park.”
Tonight he holds his second annual dance party to raise funds for this year’s “Punk in the Park,” at Spanky’s Dive Bar, a non-commercial live music venue he built in his garage.
“It’s a fun night,” Ellis said about the dance party. “I’ll be playing all request. If I don’t have [a title], I can download it pretty quickly.”
Ellis typically runs four events a year at his dive bar, usually punk concerts. This will be his second dance party, following the success of the one last year, which raised about $200 for Punk in the Park.
“There’s a $5 cover charge at the door, but we also have door prizes,” Ellis said. “Last year everyone won a door prize. People kept giving extra donations all night.”
Door prizes are donated by friends and event supporters, Ellis said, and sometimes friends donate impromptu prizes that don’t get advertised. Ellis, a professional DJ who plays for weddings, parties and other events, often raffles off gift certificates for his services. He also runs dance competitions through the night.
The Punk in the Park events cost $1,200 to run, with costs for insurance, a sound engineer, tent rentals and portable bathrooms, Ellis said. The event cannot charge because he holds it in a public park, which necessitates fundraisers and sponsors. Sponsors include C&C Fireworks in Pittsfield, Vermont, and The Bookmobile in Rutland, Vermont.
Despite living in Springfield for the past decade, Ellis said that Punk in the Park will always remain in Rutland, mostly for nostalgic reasons.
“I have a lot of old friends there,” Ellis said. “It’s a beautiful park. I think if I moved it to Springfield I’d have to call it something else.”
Spanky’s Dance Party begins 6 p.m. and continues until “whenever it ends,” Ellis said. Spanky’s Dive Bar is located at 71 Chester Road in Springfield, Vermont. Guests must be over the age of 21 to bring or consume alcohol and any person below the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult. More information can be on Spanky’s Dive Bar’s Facebook page.
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